Taking notes

A weekly feature designed to spotlight football news. If you have an item for our consideration, please e-mail it to preps@startribune.com with the subject line, "Taking Notes"

Last update: September 25, 2008 - 8:31 PM

Final homecoming?

Tonight is homecoming at McLeod West, but it's not the usual homecoming. That's because it might be the school's final homecoming.

The school district in McLeod County is facing financial problems, with four levies failing in the past nine years. Another levy is on the ballot this fall, but optimism is difficult to find. The oldest part of the school building was deemed unsafe and condemned a week before school began, and that only added to the troubles.

Students have been leaving the district in large numbers, going to Buffalo Lake-Hector, Gibbon-Fairfax-Winthrop, Hutchinson and Glencoe-Silver Lake. There are only 19 boys on the football team, but the Falcons are still playing 11-man football and are unbeaten going into tonight's homecoming game against Cedar Mountain/Comfrey. They are ranked No. 6 in 1A.

"These kids have a little different edge this year," said longtime coach Bill Neubarth, who teaches at Lester Prairie. "They want to go out with something nice. Everything else has been negative, and this is one positive for them."

If the district's situation continues to decline, this could be the final year for athletics at McLeod West. The football team has made five trips to the state playoffs, including the Class 1A championship in 2001.

Among the victories this season was a 22-19 win over Wabasso, which was ranked No. 2 in 1A at the time.

"We do have some pretty good skill players and we have decent linemen," Neubarth said. "And a lot of these kids have played for two or three years, and a couple of them have been starters for four years."

Three trophies for Farmington?

Plenty is at stake when Farmington plays host to Prior Lake tonight: Both teams are 3-0 in the Missota for starters; it is also Farmington's homecoming; and to top it off, the Milk Can is on the line.

Farmington has three "trophy games" every year, and the Tigers are 2-0. They took the Tiger Trophy from Hutchinson two weeks ago and defeated Northfield in the Tractor Game last week. A win over Prior Lake would complete a very special trifecta.

"It's one of our goals every year," senior running back Derek Waldbillig said. "We want to win the conference and everything, but winning those three is big."

Waldbillig has played a major role in both of the trophy wins so far, rushing for a combined 345 yards and five touchdowns in the two games.

"It was a great feeling to finally break out for some long runs," said Waldbillig, who had two TD runs of more than 40 yards against Northfield. "Now that we're more of a passing team, it allows some things up the middle to be open."

A victory would cap a special week; Waldbillig is also part of the homecoming court.

Not going anywhere?

Anyone planning on stopping for a bite to eat after attending tonight's Minnetonka/Edina game might want to plan on looking for one of those "Late Nite Window" fast food joints. The Skippers and Hornets probably are going to be on the field for a while.

Edina (3-1) has averaged more than 45 points a game this season. The Skippers (3-1) have put up 34 points per game. What makes this game a potential wild one is neither defense has had much success stopping anybody.

The Hornets have surrendered an average 26 points per game this season, the Skippers 22. Edina gave up 56 points in its loss to Hopkins.